Bayer: Corn Products In The Hopper

This time next year, Bayer CropScience plans to introduce corn growers to a new, proprietary safener and two new corn preemergence weed control products.

The new corn herbicides — Balance FLEXX and Corvus — account for two of at least six new product innovations the company expects to bring to market for corn growers in the next three years. Keep in mind that these introductions are contingent on EPA approval.

"Balance FLEXX and Corvus will include a brand new Bayer safener that will provide growers with Crop Safety Innovation (CSI) technology," says Jeff Springsteen, Bayer CropScience marketing manager for corn herbicides. "This will enable growers to use Balance FLEXX and Corvus on any soils without risk of crop injury and a wide application window."

When registered, corn growers can anticipate Corvus herbicide to provide a one-pass grass and broadleaf preemergence solution at a low use rate. "With a new active ingredient and two modes of action, Corvus will be dynamite against the toughest glyphosate- and triazine-resistant weeds," Springsteen says.

Balance FLEXX will provide the same preemergence control delivered by the company’s Balance Pro herbicide, but with improved crop safety and with more rate and application timing flexibility, explains Springsteen. Tank-mixing with other soil-applied products will be available. It also is intended to be a solid set-up herbicide in a sequential program with Liberty herbicide, Laudis herbicide, or glyphosate, as well as other postemergence herbicides.

Once approved by the EPA, Balance FLEXX will be labeled for burndown, early pre-plant, pre-plant incorporated, pre-emergence, or even early postemergence applications.